National News

Feb 07, 2019

9:49PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, the country has been progressing in all sectors in the last four and half years including agriculture, milk output, steel sector and aviation.

Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, Mr Modi said, his government is accountable to the people of the country.

The Prime Minister hit out at the Congress on various issues and emphatically denied its charge of destroying the constitutional institutions.

The Prime Minister said the Congress should look within as to how it had undermined these institutions during its rule at the Centre. Mr Modi also hit out at the Congress over its accusation on Rafale deal saying it does not want the Indian Air Force to be strong.

Later the House adopted the President's address negating the opposition amendments.

Rejecting the allegations of rising unemployment, Prime Minister Modi said that crores of new jobs have been created informal and unorganised sectors including transport, hotels and infrastructure. He said, jobs have been created both in informal and formal sectors in last four and half years.

He said informal sector accounts for 85 to 90 per cent while the formal sector provides only 10 to 15 per cent employment in the country.

The Prime Minister said in 15 months till November 2018, 1.8 crore people got enrolled in the Employees Provident Fund for the first time. Of these 64 per cent were below 28 years of age.

He said, about 6 lakh 35 thousand new professionals have filed income tax returns in the last four years.

Mr Modi said the government has launched several initiatives like Skill India, Stand-Up India and Digital India aimed at promoting self-employment in the country.